The New Indian Express 21.12.2009
Ragpicker community’s effort for a decent living
BANGALORE: Their role in wiping the city clean is immeasurable. However, the ragpickers or scavengers, who are central to solid waste management, are looked down upon by the society.
The Ragpicker's Education and Development Scheme (REDS), a voluntary organisation, has been working to change the perception about these unsung heroes.
“We wanted to give the ragpickers an identity, dignity of life and job security,” said Prema Mantesh, programme director, REDS. Apart from day care and training centres, REDS introduced a community-based income generation programme for the ragpickers of Bangalore in 1995.
Under this programme there are five families from the Vinayaknagar slum involved in the collection of waste material from areas such as Langford Road, Langford Road Garden, Primrose Road, Brunton Road, Convent Road, Eagle street, Alexander street and surrounding areas.
The families visit 65 apartments, 38 households and 20 offices every day.
Their responsibilities include door-todoor collection of waste and segregation of dry and wet materials.
Each of these areas has a REDS coordinator, at the end of the month he collects the bill amount from the residents and this constitutes the salary of the ragpicker. ”They earn up to Rs 3000 each month.” said Prema.
Fifty-five-year old , Thandayamma, who has been working around Nanjappa Circle for the past decade, says, “It is due to this programme that I get food to eat.” With the salary, Jeeva a single parent who has worked with the NGO for 15 years has not only built a house but has also got the older of her three daughters married.
Apart from the salary, the ragpickers earn around Rs 50-150 a day selling waste for recycling.
The BBMP has been supportive of this initiative. It is through this programme that Thangavail, 26, was hired by the BBMP on a contract basis for waste collection.
The BBMP should supplement more of these ragpickers for the collection of solid waste, but the collection should be of only dry waste and should be executed in a hygienic manner, said Kathyayini Chamraj, Trustee, CIVIC.
The ragpickers have collectively requested the BBMP to give them place to park their three wheeler push carts in each area. “We are also requesting the BBMP to give us a space for segregation of wet and dry waste in each ward,” said Prema.
